We are so excited to have Jenny Altman, of BareNecessities.com (and all around fashion expert!), as our guest blogger today!  She’s here to let you know her tips and suggestions for what to wear underneath it all for your upcoming occasions!  See below for her fabulous advice.  Thanks, Jenny!

Here are a few key tips:

1- Buy the dress in your right size.  That means the size you are now, not the size you are hoping to be.  You always look slimmer wearing a dress that fits.

2- Keep it simple.  Including jewelry and hair/makeup.  You don’t want to look back at this big event 10 years from now and wonder what you were thinking.  Classic never goes out of style.

3- Dress appropriately for your age.  Whether you are 16 and going to a prom, or the mother of the bride, think what style suits your age best.  You can still be a hot mama in a dress with sleeves.  Nobody needs to see your entire back and all of your cleavage on this special day!

4- Dress appropriately for your body.  Play-up your best features and play-down your least appealing.  For example, if your breasts are just too big for wedding photos, don’t feel the need to go strapless just because you thought Kate Middleton might (FYI – she didn’t). You look best in styles made for your body, whether it’s mini, mermaid, or full-length.

The under-arsenal:

It’s very important to pick the proper underpinnings that suit your dress and you.  I find all my favorite underpinnings at BareNecessities.com.  If you have a chance to match undergarments to the dress before any final fittings, that is key!  Buy a few key undergarments to take with you to your fitting.  If you aren’t having fittings, buy a few undergarments items and try them on with the dress at least a week before the event.  Stand in the dress, move around in it, and most importantly, look at yourself from the back.  Don’t forget to look at yourself in the daylight.  You may realize your dress is more sheer than it looked in the fitting room; which may call for a slip!

It’s very important to buy the right size for all my suggested underpinnings below.  If a bra isn’t fitting right, you’ll have spillage.  Even worse, the bra will be falling down on you all night. For shapewear, go bigger.  It’s best that the shapewear holds you in to give you a smooth, slim look.  Lastly, always go nude or black.  Nude is best everything that isn’t black, even a crisp white wedding dress.

#1- The Bra

Choose strapless or convertible unless you are 100% sure your bra and bra straps will be concealed by the dress.

#2- The Panty

Seamless and nude are the best way to go.  I would suggest a girl short if you’re looking for the seamless look with more coverage.

Other Suggested Panties: Calvin Klein Naked Thong, Hanky Panky Original Signature Lace Thong, Commando Low Rise Thong, Cosabella Aire Mesh Low Rise Hot Pants

#3- The shaping garment

For this one you really need to match it to your dress and your specific needs. What area are you trying to conceal or smooth?  Something specific like the waist or tummy?  Or, are you looking for an overall shaper that helps everything?  Pick the problem area and then look for a piece that will work for you.  If your dress is navy or chocolate, choose black shaping pieces.  Also, if you’re getting married on the beach in Mexico, please don’t pick something too heavy.  Pick something appropriate for the weather.  There are lighter weight shaping garments with mesh and other breathable fabrics.

Waist: Look for something that’s high-waisted to cinch in the waist area

Other Suggested Shapers: TC Fine Intimates Pull on Waist Cincher, Dr. Rey Shapewear Hi-Waist Brief

Tummy: Look for something with high compression in the tummy

Other Suggested Shapers: Spanx Undie-tectable Hi-Waist Shapewear Pany, Flexees Easy Up Easy Down Firm Control Brief, Cass Luxury Shapewear Invisibellas Shaper Boyshorts

Wear your own bra: If you can’t part with your own bra, or need the support of a serious bra, pick one of these to pair with it. These give you the freedom of mixing and matching.

Other Suggested Shapers: Spanx Slimplicity Open Bust Mid-Thigh Bodysuit, Sassybax Bottom Boosting All-in-One Shaper, Dr. Rey Shapewear All-in-One Step-in Body Briefer,

Butt/thighs: Look for something that lifts the rear while still giving separation.  Make sure the shaping continues through the thigh and choose mid-thigh if you need it all the way down.

Other Suggested Shapers: Spanx Slimplicity High Waist Girl Short Panty, Shatobu High Waist-to-Knee Calorie Burning Shaper

Everything: I love an all-in-one shaper that combines the bra and shaper. You get less lines and have less pieces to match up.

Other Suggested Shapers: Va Bien Seamless Underwire Comfort Strap Firm Control Body Briefer, TC Fine Intimates Strapless Convertible Bra Slip, Sassybax Pretty Slip with Underwire Bra, Va Bien Ultra Lift Low Plunge Body Briefer

#4-Hosiery

Do you need hosiery? In warm weather, I prefer a footless hose that covers the thigh and leg. This way you can show off your gorgeous shoe and pedicure without having webbed feet. If you feel you need hosiery all the way to the feet, then try to stick with a closed or closed-front shoe. Go for a black sheer in the warmer months.

Other Suggested Hosiery: Spanx In Power Line High Waisted Footless Panythose, Calvin Klein Hosiery Zero Waistband Control Top Pantyhose, Wolford Satin Touch Evening Thigh Highs

#5- Extras

Make a little emergency kit to keep in your purse.  Be sure it includes nipple covers, fashion tape, Bandaids and a small sewing kit.  And don’t forget the mints!

Other Suggested Extras: Pure Style Girlfriends Stay Put Double Sided Fashion Tape, Fashion Forms Magic Sponge, Foot Petals Tip Toes Cushions 3 pack

Now go and have a fabulous night! Put on a smile and know that you are prepped and ready to take center stage.

Xo,

Jenny

RICHPR is one of the leading PR agencies in the fashion industry, particularly with lingerie.  The tagline “Let RICHPR expose you” is more than a double entendre!  This boutique firm specializes in media outreach and does a phenomenal job of connecting the brands with the editors, reporters, writers, producers, fashion stylists and bloggers.  RICHPR ensures that both up-and-coming as well as established brands get the exposure they deserve.

Owner and founder, Lauren Rich, and her team, are the epitome of professionalism, sophistication, and creativity!  They recently hosted me, along with other media representatives, at a press preview for the Autumn/Winter 2011 collections for BRULEE, Affinitas, Parfait by Affinitas, Second Base, and Sassybax!  No RICHPR preview would be complete without a theme and this time was no exception!  The theme ‘Enchanted’ was carried out in every detail making for a magical experience.  In this intimate setting, I was able to view the upcoming collections that you will be seeing in stores in just a few months.  While nothing compares to seeing and feeling the luxurious laces, sensuous silks, and chic chiffons for yourself, I hope this footage will capture the essence of the loveliness that is to come in just a few months!  Let us know what your favorites are!

And since a TLP video wouldn’t be complete without a little musical accompaniment, we hope you love (and let us know how much!) the ‘Enchanted’ worthy song by our friend, Ramzi.  Enjoy!

Click here to view the embedded video.

What’s up for grabs?  One Black and one White Cigarette Pant for two (yes, two!) of our very lucky readers.  Available in sizes S-XL, this versatile, part pant, part legging shapewear phenomenon is both fashionable and functional!

How do you enter?  Well, first you must ‘Like’ both The Lingerie Post and Sassybax on Facebook.  Then, comment on our link with, “I want to shape up for spring with a Sassybax Black Cigarette Pant” or “I want to shape up for spring with a Sassybax White Cigarette Pant.”

The contest ends on Friday, March 18th at 11:59 p.m. EST, so get your entry in today and keep your eye on your inbox in the days following the 18th!  In the meantime, don’t forget to check out all of the other great products from Sassybax!

This contest is open to readers in U.S. and Canada only.  (Don’t worry friends around the world.  There will be something for you soon!)

The new Pretty Collection not only helps all of your clingy things fit smoothly, but also looks great, too!  In sizes 2-18, women of various shapes and sizes can feel comfortable and confident. And with prices retailing at $50 – $118, you won’t have to break the bank to do so.

Need something more basic?  The Classic Collection is for you!  Options include seamless bra, camisole, control bottom and full body pieces to wear under your most daring designs. Sizes range from 2-26 and retail from $48 – $78.

All the above are sold at numerous fine department stores, boutiques and online retailers throughout the U.S., including NeimanMarcus.com, HerRoom.com, BareNecessities.com, FreshPair.com and of course, Sassybax.com.

And for those of you who need a more creative solution, Sassybax has a collection of great fixes!  Sassynips, Sassymax, and the Very Bare Bra keep you concealed, boosted, and bared, as needed. Sassynips are reusable (about 25 wears!), adhesive nipple covers that retail at $18 and keep you from showing it all off when you don’t want to!  Sassymax are unlimited wear, non-adhesive breast enhancers that discreetly give you a little oomph!  Retailing at only $48, they are a great investment!  The adhesive Very Bare Bra keeps everything in its place when you’re wearing a daring, backless look.  A celeb fave, this bra can be worn approximately  20-50 times. For $78, that’s a great deal. The Very Bare Bra fits sizes AA-DD.

All above accessories are available at Sassybax.com.

Ivanka Trump and Kirstie Alley like the Elle Macpherson Intimates Coranto Contour bra, a demi bra with delicate lace and molded underwire cups. Beyonce was also featured in Blender Magazine wearing this bra.

Eva Longoria included Elle Macpherson Intimate’s Dentelle Countour Bra in her wedding trousseau, and Katherine McPhee wore it in Stuff magazine.

Katherine Zeta Jones wears Sassybax’s Torso Trim Camisole while filming movies to smooth her figure and whittle her waist on the big screen. You thought that stunning figure was natural, but she actually has a little help!

Paris Hilton, Jessica Simpon, and Rebecca Romijn all love Honeydew. Paris goes for the Rumba Panty while Jessica and Rebecca prefer the Mesh Boyshorts. They had better stock up; the style is being discontinued and it’s on final sale!

Even Jessica Alba welcomed some help from Spanx in “The Fabulous Four” to look her best in her costume.

Nicole Kidman is reportedly a big fan of Hanro panties, and even personally chose the Simply Satin V Camisole and the Simply Satin Hi-Cut Briefs to wear in “Eyes Wide Shut.”

The absolutely gorgeous Chantelle Africa collection is a favorite of both Hillary Swank and Emmy Award winner Mariska Hargitay. Hargitay’s favorite color is Ebony, which definitely shows off the delicate detailing.

Dolly Parton, who is notoriously unashamed of her assets, still knows that sometimes you don’t need to advertise everything. She has reportedly bought hundreds of Fashion Forms Satin Breast Petals.

To see more (like the women who love Hanky Panky and all the Chantelle fans), visit the HerRoom.com website.